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The mission of Rhode Island College Health Services is to provide confidential and holistic primary health care to enhance the academic potential of our students. Each student encounter is an opportunity to educate about prevention and risk reduction to promote life-long healthy choices. Health Services is committed to providing high quality, accessible and cost effective services in a non-judgmental atmosphere that values diversity and respects individuality.

HEALTH ALERTS:

Measles Update:

The United States is currently experiencing a large, multi-state measles outbreak linked to an amusement park in California.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease spread through the air. Symptoms start with a fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, sore throat and is followed by a rash that spreads all over the body.

All full-time students are required to provide Health Services with proof of immunity from measles, along with other vaccine-preventable diseases, as required by the RI Department of Health. If you have any concerns about your immunization status or would like to discuss how to protect yourself, please call Health Services at 401-456-8055.

Meningitis:

Two Providence College students were recently diagnosed with serogroup B meningitis, a rare but serious bacterial infection. Symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, headache, light sensitivity, nausea, vomiting and rash. The infection is spread through direct secretions from the nose or mouth through activities such as kissing, sharing food, drinks, water bottles, toothbrushes, eating utensils, or cigarettes.

Meningococcal disease can be treated with antibiotics, but quick medical attention is extremely important. Although most students have been vaccinated for other serogroups, only recently did a vaccine become available in the U.S. for serogroup B meningitis. There is no recommendation for students other than those at PC to be vaccinated at this time but the RI Department of Health is closely monitoring the situation and will provide timely guidance.

Influenza:

Flu remains widespread in R.I. The virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes near another person. It may also spread when people touch something covered with infected droplets and then touch their eyes, mouth, or nose.

If you have flu-like symptoms (sudden onset of fever with sore throat, cough, bodyaches, vomiting or diarrhea) and have a chronic medical problem such as asthma, diabetes, immunosuppression or heart disease, please call your PCP (primary care provider) or RIC Health Services (401)-456-8055.If you are at high risk for complications from the flu you should consult your health care provider when your flu symptoms begin. Certain antiviral drugs may be recommended to treat the flu.

Warning signs that can signal the need for urgent medical care include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain and severe or persistent vomiting. If someone has the flu, begins to improve and then gets worse again with a return of fever, they should seek medical care immediately! Go to the nearest emergency room.

Ways to Avoid the Flu:

Wash your hands often throughout the day. Use warm water and soap. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand gel. MORE

Cough or sneeze into your elbow. Flu is spread through coughing or sneezing on other people or into your hands. Cover your coughs and sneezes to prevent others from getting sick.